Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

He exhorts Timothy to attend to his office; namely, to see that nothing is taught but God’s word, etc. He shows also for what the law is good, and tells this sweet and glad tidings: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our hope.

² To Timothy, his true-born son in the faith.

Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

³ As I besought you to continue in Ephesus when I departed into Macedonia, so do, and direct certain men to teach no other way, ⁴ neither to give heed to legends and genealogies, which are endless and breed doubts more than godly edifying, which is by faith. ⁵ For the end of the commandment is love that comes of a pure heart and a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned – ⁶ from which things some have erred, and have turned to vain prattle, ⁷ because they want to be teachers of the scripture and yet do not understand what they speak, nor the things they assert.

⁸ We know that the law is good if one abides by it lawfully, ⁹ understanding that the law is not given for a righteous person, but for the unrighteous and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and unclean, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for man-slayers ¹⁰ and whoremongers, for those who defile themselves with menkind, for kidnappers, for liars and perjurers, and so forth, if there be any other thing that is contrary to wholesome precept, ¹¹ according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, which gospel is committed to me.